Two generations of local rockers teaming up at Greer Fest

Doug Gray and Shane Pruitt were recently sitting together at a local eatery when an instantly familiar song started playing through the overhead sound system.

By DAN ARMONAITISdan.armonaitis@shj.com

Doug Gray and Shane Pruitt were recently sitting together at a local eatery when an instantly familiar song started playing through the overhead sound system.“Listen to that,” said Pruitt, a 36-year-old who has blossomed into one of Spartanburg's finest guitarists.A smile flashed across Gray's face as the breezy Southern rock anthem “Can't You See” filled the room.“I know that lick anywhere,” Gray said.Gray, of course, is a founding member of the Marshall Tucker Band, the legendary Spartanburg-based outfit that first recorded the song in 1973.“Can you believe that song's been played 7 million times on the radio now?” he said.Pruitt replied, “That's amazing, man.”Gray then recounted the first time he heard “Can't You See” being played on the radio.“We were driving down the road on the way to Atlanta, Ga.,” he said. “And this guy from 96 Rock comes on the air and says, ‘Man, we've got this other band down here besides the Allman Brothers and Wet Willie.' And, all of a sudden, ‘Can't You See' starts playing.”Shaking his head in amazement, Pruitt said, “That gives me goose bumps.”

In the past couple of years, Gray has taken Pruitt under his wing, giving the young guitar whiz multiple opportunities to perform with the Marshall Tucker Band.Two summers ago, Pruitt played with the iconic group in front of thousands of bikers at the famed Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. And he has since appeared on stage with Gray and company on two Rock Legends cruises.“It's been pretty surreal,” Pruitt said of such experiences. “Growing up, being from Spartanburg, I've always been aware of the Marshall Tucker legacy. And for Doug to allow me to sit in with them, it's just an honor and a privilege.”While most local music fans have likely heard about Pruitt's exploits with the Marshall Tucker Band, few have had a chance to witness any of them firsthand. The shows have simply been too far away.That will change Saturday when Pruitt shares the stage with the Marshall Tucker Band for its headlining performance at the Greer Family Fest.“I'm definitely looking forward to getting to play with them this close to home,” Pruitt said.Gray said Pruitt reminds him of Toy Caldwell, the original Marshall Tucker Band lead guitarist who died in 1993.“Shane hears things in a different way,” Gray said. “He doesn't play notes exactly like Toy Caldwell, but he puts that soul in there. It's obvious that Shane has listened to all kinds of music, and Toy was the same way.”The Marshall Tucker Band had massive success in the 1970s, delivering a string of Southern rock classics that also includes “Fire on the Mountain,” “Searchin' for a Rainbow” and “Heard It in a Love Song.” The late Tommy Caldwell (Toy's brother) and George McCorkle were other founding members of the group, as were Paul T. Riddle and Jerry Eubanks.The current full-time lineup is composed of Gray on lead vocals and tambourine; B.B. Borden on drums; Pat Elwood on bass; Marcus James Henderson on keyboards, saxophone and flute; and Chris Hicks and Rick Willis on guitars.

“We're going to have a great time,” Gray said. “There'll be people there who want us to take them to a place where — for at least an hour and a half or two hours — they can get their minds away from the bills that came in that day or whatever (issues) they're dealing with.“When they come to see Marshall Tucker, they're going to get a show that's every bit as energetic as it would be if we were playing Madison Square Garden.”And for the first time so close to Spartanburg, local music fans will get to see Pruitt on stage with the Marshall Tucker Band.“I just want to service the music and service the players I'm playing with and just give it my best,” Pruitt said. “Anything less from me is not acceptable. I always like to use a quote that (legendary bluesman) Luther Allison said — ‘Check your ego at the side of the stage, and go out there and love the people.' ”When not sitting in with the Marshall Tucker Band, Pruitt performs throughout the Southeast. His primary music projects include leading a soul- and blues-informed rock group called the Shane Pruitt Band and membership in an acoustic roots outfit, Mill Billy Blues.“I've had a lot of people ask me why Shane's not out there with us full time,” Gray said. “But the thing is Shane has a plan for himself. He's got a lovely wife, and there are so many things he wants to explore musically.“And that's more important to me. He needs to be out there playing with other people. … But I can tell you, when the time is right and if it's something he wants to do, Shane will be out there with Marshall Tucker all the time.”

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